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Placing sculpture in your home is a solid design choice.

This standing art form adds weight to your home decor and a beautiful focal point.
Sculpture may seem like an unusual topic for decorating the inside of your home since we most often think of statues as dramatic decorative items outdoors or in commercial buildings and museums. But think of some of the home interiors that you’ve found to be most dramatic and beautiful. Chances are they included a sculpture of some kind.
Sculpture adds a unique and memorable touch to your home. Statuary can be small, medium or large, and can sit on the floor or a table, or even be mounted on a wall. There are so many options in material, including bronze and other metals, marble and other stone, glass, wood and more. Even large plates mounted on a wall can be considered sculpture. And medallions on the ceiling surrounding your dining room chandelier can be thought of as ceiling sculpture.The subject of your sculpture can be lifelike or abstract. Today, many homeowners are adding statues of buddhas, animals, birds and classic human busts to their décor. And, in the abstract realm, almost any design is possible. Some people even like statuary that adds humor or whimsy to the home. It all depends on what pleases YOU!
Whether your sculpture sits on the floor, on a table or against a wall, make sure it’s in a place where it stands out against the surrounding color and design elements. Otherwise it will “disappear” and not make an impact. The base can be important too – to steady a sculpture, bring it to the right height and add drama.

Introduce a unique design element to your home with a piece of sculpture.

Like this:

A touch of black is a design necessity.

It’s a tried-and-true design adage that every room needs just a smidgen of black..
There’s something about adding just one element of black to a room that anchors the room and enhances the other colors. You and your guests may not even notice the touch of black, but it does make a difference.
Black is a powerful color, so a little goes a long way in adding drama, sophistication, seriousness or masculinity. And one of the best things about black is that it never goes out of style, even as other colors rise and fall in popularity, so your black accents will probably outlast all your other design elements!
Black goes well with so many colors, especially cream or any off-white – or even pure, snowy white. It also looks beautiful with bold jewel tones and soft pastels. Today, some people are even decorating with black as the primary color in their design scheme, but be cautious about using too much black – it can be overpowering.
Ideas for a touch of black include:

Frames for paintings, photographs or mirrors

Granite or marble countertops in the kitchen or bath

Lamps or lampshades

Upholstery fabric – in moderation

Flooring

Lacquer moldings around windows and doors

A valance, top treatment or drapery rod

Leather-covered walls or wall coverings

The inside surfaces of a built-in shelving system

Wrought iron for stair railings or bed frames

Anchor your home decor by adding a splash of black in every room this spring.

Adding built-ins maximizes the floor space of your home.

Use them for dramatic displays, hidden storage, entertainment center or extra seating.

Built in shelves with an assortment of vases.

Storage is a challenge, especially since we Americans like to accumulate “stuff.” And almost nothing detracts more from a beautiful interior design plan than lots of clutter and chaos. A great solution – and one that can add beauty and a focal point to your home – is built-ins, including cabinets, shelving, seating and more.

Built-ins are appropriate for almost any room in the house – family rooms, kitchens, home offices, dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. They can also be used to separate areas of a large room or fill an awkward space in a corner or below the stairs.
Think outside the box when planning built-ins for almost any room in your home:

To serve as display space around the fireplace

For seating as a built-in banquette in the kitchen

To display treasures and books along a wide hallway

To hold audio and video equipment as your entertainment center

To create a hidden desk inside a closet

For storage at the bedside or even under the bed

To put away dishes, glasses, serving ware and linens in the dining room

As a casual place to chat or read with a window seat

Consider adding built-ins to your home to maximize space, get rid of clutter and add beauty.

It just feels natural to decorate with green!

Go rich and lush, calm and serene, or bold and brilliant.
This versatile color brings a familiar touch of the outdoor world to your indoor environment.
Green is a very adaptable design color, partly because it comes in so many variations. Green is the color we see most often in nature, so it’s not surprising that so many shades of green are named for plants and gemstones, including:Such a variety of hues means you can use green to create a range of looks and evoke a variety of emotions – subtle or edgy, calming or energizing, traditional or thoroughly modern. Green goes well in almost any interior style from Traditional to French Country to Transitional to Lodge-style, and more.
It’s not always easy decorating with green. Mixing shades of green can be a challenge. It’s usually best to stick with one, or at most two, shades of green, then use neutrals and other accents in your design scheme.
When you’re shopping, look at green hues closely in different lights and view your green design elements
together before you purchase. Better yet, get the advice of an expert when you decorate with green.
Colors that work well with green really depend on the shade of green you select. In general, green
goes well with:• White, gray, and neutral beiges and creams • Browns, camels and taupes • Pinks, reds and salmon • Small touches of blue, black, orange or yellow

Searching for a natural, outdoorsy look and feeling in your home? Just add green!